City crowned Scotland's best filming location and it's not Glasgow or Edinburgh
Bonnie Scotland has served as a backdrop for major productions
Scotland's cinematic scenery has long captured the attention of filmmakers, but it's not just the big names like Glasgow or Edinburgh that are drawing production crews.
Stirling has now been named among the UK's most popular filming locations, thanks to a new study by TV and entertainment experts OLBG.
The research looked at key markers such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes scores for shows filmed in each location, tourism interest based on online searches, and average accommodation costs to determine the top TV show capitals across the country.
Stirling impressed with an exceptional average IMDb score of 9.2, a Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 89 percent, and an audience score of 85 percent.
It has seen a 224.4 percent jump in annual search interest, totalling more than 1.6 million location searches per year.
The average cost of a three-star hotel in the area sits at £82 per night. Altogether, the city earned a strong TV show tourism score of 8.58 out of 10.
Among the most iconic productions filmed in and around Stirling are Braveheart, Outlaw King, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Mary Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
Stirling's dramatic backdrops and historic landmarks have also featured in hit series such as Game of Thrones, Outlander, Good Omens, Cold Water, and recent releases like Lockerbie and Mary & George.
The findings placed Stirling firmly in the spotlight, showing just how much its film credentials have grown in recent years.
The city's rich history, impressive architecture, and sweeping landscapes have made it an increasingly attractive choice for both period dramas and fantasy epics.
Rank
Location
Average IMDb Score
Average Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Average Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Annual Location Searches
Percentage Change in Annual Location Searches
Average Cost of 3 3-Star Hotel
TV Show Tourism Score (/10)
1
Dudley
8.7
93
94
1,495,000
295.9%
£93.00
9.42
2
Dunstable
8.3
98
88
850,500
169.7%
£66.00
8.78
3
Ellesmere Port
8.7
93
94
717,500
149.2%
£68.00
8.75
4
Hayes
8.8
90
85
1,056,000
254.7%
£72.00
8.70
5
Stirling
9.2
89
85
1,626,000
224.4%
£82.00
8.58
6
Northwich
8.7
93
94
834,000
163.5%
£89.00
8.53
7
Newbury
8.7
84
94
1,470,000
176.0%
£85.00
8.27
8
Seaham
8.5
91
95
528,800
142.9%
£88.00
8.24
8
Leeds
7.9
93
88
7,169,000
138.9%
£85.00
8.24
10
Bradford
7.9
93
88
2,827,000
127.6%
£62.00
8.21
While Stirling made a strong showing, Dudley in the West Midlands was crowned the UK's top TV show location overall, earning a TV tourism score of 9.42 out of 10.
It gained acclaim for productions like Dancing on the Edge and Peaky Blinders, with the second-highest Rotten Tomatoes audience rating (94 percent) for shows filmed in the area.
London, unsurprisingly, topped the list for the sheer volume of TV productions, boasting over 1,500 shows filmed there. Other top contenders included Manchester, Hertfordshire, and West Yorkshire.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Meanwhile, the BBC comedy Ghosts was named the most popular show in the study, earning a near-perfect TV tourism score of 9.41 thanks to its critical and audience acclaim (96 and 92 percent respectively on Rotten Tomatoes).
And for fans planning a filming location-inspired getaway, Bradford came out as the best value option.
The West Yorkshire city, featured in shows like Downton Abbey, offers an average three-star hotel stay for just £62 a night, the lowest in the top-ranked locations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Squid Game episodes ranked from worst to best
Squid Game has come to an end with its highly anticipated third season. After four years, the story of Player 456 has reached a conclusion on Netflix. The ending of season three might have left you with a few questions - not least of all who the surprise cameo at the end was. Find out more about that here. Creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has hinted at having an idea for a spin-off - while the reality show version 'Squid Game: The Challenge' is set to return in the future as well. An American adaptation is also in the works and was potentially hinted at in the conclusion of season three. Now that all of the episodes of Squid Game are out - and all the games have been played - you might be wondering which are considered the best. And which have lower reputation with fans. We have pulled together a ranking of every single episode of the Netflix hit based on audience reviews on IMDb. The list is ordered from worst to best - but let me know your favourite episode by email: . If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film. 1 . 21 - Friend or Foe (s2 ep 7) - 7 Viewers seem not to have been big on Squid Game's recent season finales. The conclusion to season two - which left audiences hanging until the third series released - had the second lowest score on IMDb. It has a rating of 7/10 based on 17,000 reviews. | Netflix Photo: Netflix Photo Sales 2 . 20 - Halloween Party (s2 ep 2) - 7.2 Squid Game's second season took the bold move of taking its time to head back to the titular games. Audiences don't seem to have been fond of that move as the second episode of series 2 - Halloween Party - has a score of just 7.2/10. It is based on 15,000 reviews on IMDb. | Netflix Photo: Netflix Photo Sales 3 . 19 - One More Game (s2 ep 5) - 7.3 Entering the back half of its second series, Squid Game the players were faced with a vote whether to continue or not. One More Game - which is the longest episode of the entire show - has a rating of 7.3/ 10 based on 13,000 reviews on IMDb. | Netflix Photo: Netflix Photo Sales 4 . 18 - Keys and Knives (s3 ep 1) - 7.4 Another of the less well regarded episodes from Squid Game's run is the opener for season three. It sees the players take on a deadly game of hide-and-seek with a twist. Keys and Knives had a 7.4/10 rating based on 8,000 reviews on IMDb. | Netflix Photo: Netflix Photo Sales
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Netflix adds 'breathtaking' sci-fi movie 23 years after it was first released
A 'breathtaking', action-packed sci-fi movie is finally coming to Netflix, 23 years after it was first released. Minority Report was released in 2002, helmed by Steven Spielberg and based on the novel of the same name by Philip K Dick. The futuristic film transported viewers to 2054, and was set in a world where police had psychic technology and were able to arrest people for crimes before they happened. Tom Cruise starred as Precrime chief John Anderton who led the department, but found himself on the wrong side of the department when he was accused of a crime he hadn't committed yet. The Mission: Impossible icon was joined in the cast by Colin Farrell, Samanta Morton, Patrick Kilpatrick and Max von Sydow. Minority Report is being added to the streaming platform on July 1, meaning a new batch of fans will be able to watch on in terror as John goes on the run, desperate to clear his name. The dystopian flick currently boasts a Rotten Tomatoes score of 89% from critics, compared to 80% from the audience. An anonymous fan penned: 'This movie was awesome. It had an incredibly unique idea that was so much fun to watch unfold. Plenty of twists and turns. A perfect sci-fi movie.' 'Probably my favorite Tom Cruise movie! It had such an original plot and a great story line! Definitely a bit sci-fi-ish, but really well done,' Jeremy L said. 'This movie was amazing and way ahead of its time,' an unnamed fan said. 'I was very impressed. Tom Cruise had an incredible performance. 'The story was unique and captivating. Very thought provoking. All the future tech displayed in this movie is still impressive today in 2020 even to a seasoned Sci-Fi fan. A must see film, one of the best Sci-Fi movies out there.' Daniel W raved: 'On the short list of my all-time favorite movies, Minority Report is the rare film that has everything: breathtaking action and suspense, philosophical and ethical dilemmas, real emotion and well-placed plot twists. 'In fact, it has so much going on that it might have gone off the rails in lesser hands; but Spielberg's veteran direction shapes it into a masterpiece.' The official synopsis reads: 'In a near future where murders can be seen before they happen, the head of the Precrime unit goes on the run when he's accused of an imminent homicide.' More Trending Minority Report was released more than two decades ago, and made more than $225million at the global box office. It spawned a spin-off prequel series on Fox in 2015, with Stark Sands, Wilmer Valderrama, Meagan Good, Nick Zano and Daniel London in the cast. However, the program wasn't as successful as the blockbuster, and was axed after one season. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Film hailed ‘one of the greatest ever made' now available on Amazon Prime
A war film dubbed 'claustrophobic' and 'thrilling' is available to stream now via Amazon Prime Video. Das Boot, released in 1981, is often deemed one of the greatest war movies of all time, telling the story of the German submarine U-96 and its crew as they set out on patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic. It is based on Lothar-Günther Buchheim's 1973 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name and was nominated for six Academy Awards. Wolfgang Petersen's masterpiece was the German film with the most Oscar nominations until 2022, when All Quiet on the Western Front snatched the title. Despite Buchheim expressing his displeasure with the film adaptation, Das Boot received a sequel in the form of a TV series in 2018, set nine months after the events of the original film. Overall, high production costs make it one of the most expensive films in German cinematic history, but it was certainly worth splashing the cash on, becoming a commercial success and grossing nearly $85million worldwide, which is equivalent to $277m (£202m) in today's money. The film currently holds a near-perfect 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'Taut, breathtakingly thrilling, and devastatingly intelligent, Das Boot is one of the greatest war films ever made.' said Das Boot has 'enough nerve-wracking suspense to make your heart pound against your chest like depth charges rupturing a submarine's hull.' Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote: 'This is the finest submarine movie ever made. Although director Wolfgang Petersen emphasizes the claustrophobia of undersea life, his above-surface scenes are powerful as well.' Meanwhile, Associated Press said: 'Peterson has captured the teamwork, the claustrophobia and the peril of underwater warfare. He draws compelling performances from the crewmen, many of them quite young.' 'The execution is second to none; taut, claustrophobic and overwhelming,' Empire summarised. Time Out added: 'Petersen's shooting style displays a breathtaking, if impersonal and faintly academic, virtuosity comparable to that of Lean or Coppola.' Speaking to No Frills Sailing in 2019, Das Boot star Martin May explained how the film impacted his life. 'Well, the answer is quite clear: It shaped everybody profoundly who had the honour to be part of the crew, no matter of before or behind the lenses,' he said. More Trending 'So did it shape me: It meant the best possible start into my career of being an actor. 'It … really is still even to date the most professional produced, best executed movie production I ever worked with – and I know that many of my colleagues feel this way too. 'Wolfgang Petersen is the most complete director I ever worked with – we were making a movie for almost one year without a single occasion of yelling, can you imagine that.' Das Boot is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Teen arrested as Ukrainian mother and daughter found dead on remote forest path MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as love triangle is 'solved' MORE: 'Divisive' comedy thriller with shocking ending available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer
